Detroit River Evening 2017

On June 21st, the DRCC hosted the 7th annual Detroit River Evening with Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change and other DRCC partners at the Windsor Yacht Club. The event started with the screening of the short Canada150 video ‘Eau Canada,’ developed by Canadian Heritage Rivers and singing O’ Canada. This video features the Detroit River and DRCC staff.

Claire Sanders, Detroit River Remedial Action Plan Coordinator provided updates on 2016/17 projects, and announced the release of both the 2016/17 Annual Report and the 2016/17 Pathway to Delisting. This is the working document that guides and inventories remediation action for the Detroit River. Tom Henderson, the DRCC Public Advisory Council Chair discussed issues such as cuts to GLRI funding, the Ojibway Shores property and the General Chemical site in Amherstburg.

Recovery of the Lake Sturgeon population in the Detroit River is a remarkable story. James Boase, Fish Biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service provided an excellent presentation discussing the keystone species and research that is being done to monitor and understand the population recovery.

With so many partners collecting a variety of information and research on different issues related to the Detroit River, there was a need for an innovative way to track it, map it and make it available for researchers and agencies to use and collaborate. In 2015, the University of Windsor took on this challenge. Alice Grgicak-Mannion from the Great Lakes Institute of Environmental Research provided an informative presentation on the Delist Areas of Concern (AOC) Metadata and Mapping System tool.

They keynote speaker, Marty Gervais is an award winning journalist, photographer, poet, playwright, historian, editor and teacher. His stories about the Detroit River are fascinating and show that the river does define the Windsor Essex community in it’s cultural, social, historical and natural heritage significance. Marty reminded everyone that when we share stories about the Detroit River, we can care for it.

The DRCC would like to thank everyone involved in the restoration of the Detroit River. This includes the multiple partners, organizations, businesses, active citizens and other supporters for another year’s work on cleanup initiatives. The DRCC would also like to thank all of the presenters, and especially for Marty Gervais for coming out and spending the evening with us talking about the Detroit River. Last, thank you to the Windsor Yacht Club for the accommodations, service, food and wonderful venue.

Detroit River Evening 2017 Gallery

Eco Adventure to Peche Island

DRCC partners went on an Eco Adventure hosted by Windsor Adventure Inc. to Peche Island on June 21 2017. The group included representatives from the DRCC, Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Friends of the Detroit River, DRCC PAC, Essex Region Conservation Authority, and individuals who are actively involved in restoring the Detroit River.

Peche Island marks the upper Detroit River and the entrance to Lake St. Clair. The island is just under 100 acres and was purchased by Hiram Walker in 1883. The property acquired by the City of Windsor from the Province of Ontario in 1999. The island is a naturalized park with walking trails that The island can only be accessed by boat, canoe, kayak or SUP. For anyone who visits Peche, they can experience significant cultural, historical and natural heritage unique to the area and the Detroit River.

The DRCC would like to especially thank Windsor Adventure Inc. for sending us on our Eco Adventure to Peche Island!

Eco Adventure Photo Gallery

State of the Great Lakes 2017 / État des Grands Lacs 2017

State of the Great Lakes 2017

The Governments of Canada and the United States are pleased to release the State of the Great Lakes 2017 Highlights Report. Overall, the Great Lakes are assessed as Fair and Unchanging. While progress to restore and protect the Great Lakes has been made, including the reduction of toxic chemicals, challenges remain with issues such as invasive species and nutrients.

Pursuant to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Canada and the United States, together with their many partners, established a suite of 9 indicators of ecosystem health, supported by 44 sub-indicators, to assess the state of the Great Lakes. State of the Great Lakes assessments support the identification of current and emerging challenges to Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health, help Governments evaluate the effectiveness of programs and policies in place to address challenges, and help inform and engage others.

Over 180 government and non-government Great Lakes scientists and other experts worked to assemble available data to populate the suite of indicators and sub-indicators and prepare assessment reports.

The State of the Great Lakes 2017 Technical Report will be available soon.

Stay Informed!

We appreciate and value your interest in the progress of Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Great Lakes programs. If you wish to update any of your contact information, or to be added or removed from this distribution list, please send an email to ec.grandslacs-greatlakes.ec@canada.ca with the following:

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As always, your details will be treated as privileged information and will only be used to distribute our Great Lakes information to you – our stakeholders. These distribution lists are never shared outside of Environment and Climate Change Canada.

CCIW Open House

You’re Invited!

On Friday, June 16 and Saturday, June 17, the Canada Centre for Inland Waters is hosting an Open House in celebration of National Public Service Week and the 150th anniversary of Canada. Over 50 exhibits will be staffed by government scientific experts, members of the Coast Guard, plus enforcement officers with Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Additionally, lab tours are being offered to visitors from Monday, June 12th to Thursday, June 15th, for members of the public. Be sure to visit if you are in the area! Canada Centre for Inland Waters is located at 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario â€“ under the Skyway Bridge.

Spring is right around the corner, and what better way to “dig in” to the warmer weather than with a fun, free, family-friendly tree planting even […]

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Get Involved!

From tree plantings and clean ups, to advocacy and education programs, CLICK HERE to find out how you can be involved with protecting and enhancing the Detroit River.

What is the DRCC?

The Detroit River Canadian Cleanup implements the Remedial Action Plan on behalf of a community-based partnership between the government (federal, provincial, municipal), local industries, researchers, environmental organizations and citizens working together to protect, restore and enhance the Detroit River ecosystem.